In June 2006 a woman we call Jenny came to a weekend at Holy Cross for leaders and coordinators of Family Groups. She came with others from her country parish and during the weekend she shared a remarkable story with those of us who were there. We have recently met Jenny again on one of our parish visits and she shared another chapter of that story with us.
Mark was invited to join a Family Group about 3 years ago. He was divorced and had only just recovered from a freakish accident which left him unable to continue to work.
On Sunday 18th May, 2003, Brad Hunt was busily cleaning up at the end of a lovely family BBQ which he had cooked for his father in law’s birthday. As some of the family prepared to leave, Brad sneaked into the garage to grab his new prized possession, a skateboard which his wife, Wendy had given him just a week earlier for his 37th birthday.
(An article from Alternatives, a newsletter of Catholic Adult Education Centre, Sydney. April, 2002)
In this article, Fr Peter McGrath cp, founder of the Passionist Family Group Movement, explores the value of family groups and shares what many are experiencing – belonging to a true Christian community.
The idea of a special day for Family Groups came from the members in London, UK and jour our very first celebration day was on Sunday 7th of May 2000. Our Founder, Father Peter McGrath, and the NSW and INTL PFGM offices were then at the Passionist Monastery at St. Ives when Father Peter wrote to encourage parishes to bring all their people together to celebrate the Eucharist with Family Group members participating in the Liturgy. He suggested that during…
This extract is from the Tui Motu’s review of lay movements in the church since the Vatican Council defined the church as the People of God. The Passionist Family Groups The successor to the Christian Family Movement has its origins much closer to home. The Passionist Family Group Movement was started in 1972 by Fr Peter McGrath cp in the Terrey Hills parish, New South Wales. It has grown steadily and now it operates in 420 parishes in English-speaking countries touching…
Like a lot of people to whom Family Groups mean so much, my husband and I are ex-patriots (of the UK and South Africa). Almost 10 years ago, Ken and I responded to an appeal at Mass for new Family Group members given by Carolyn. We were very soon to become parents and I was searching for a way to bring our children up in the Catholic faith in a way that would involve my non-Catholic husband in a non-threatening way.